Nissan has started building the third-generation Leaf at its Sunderland factory in northeast England. The Japanese automaker invested over £450 million developing this latest version of its flagship electric car.
The company put £300 million into upgrading the Sunderland plant alone. The facility employs 6,000 workers and stands as the UK’s largest car factory – it can build up to 600,000 vehicles annually.
Sunderland has been the Leaf’s home since 2013.
The plant has manufactured 282,704 Leafs since production began there. That makes it a cornerstone of Nissan’s global EV strategy.
Factory Gets Major Upgrades
The upgrades at Sunderland include 137 new molds for the Leaf’s body panels and 78 high-tech robots in the body shop. Nissan also installed a fully automated laser welding facility.
The most impressive addition might be the battery installation system – it can apply 26 bolts to secure components in just 56 seconds.
Nissan worked with AESC to expand the battery manufacturing facility across from the main assembly plant. That facility produces batteries for both the Leaf and the upcoming all-electric Juke, which arrives next year.
The new Juke will also be built at Sunderland.
“Sunderland is the beating heart of the UK’s automotive industry, and Nissan’s investment is a major commitment to the North East and a huge vote of confidence in our economy,” said Peter Kyle, the UK’s business and trade secretary, speaking at a ceremony beside the Leaf production line.
Kyle highlighted the government’s commitment to the automotive sector during his remarks.
“Through this government’s modern Industrial Strategy, we’re delivering £4 billion into our world-leading auto sector, the biggest investment into the car industry since the post-war era, driving growth, innovation and jobs across the country.”
Government Support Despite Mixed Signals
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has maintained support for EVs despite what some call “mixed messaging” from the recent Autumn Budget. The administration rolled out the Electric Car Grant to boost EV adoption and pledged an additional £200 million for public charging infrastructure.
The UK-built Leaf starts at £32,349 for the entry-level Engage trim. That version comes with 215 horsepower and 386 miles of range from a 75kWh battery pack.
Order books opened recently, with initial deliveries scheduled for February.
The third-generation Leaf represents a significant step forward in both technology and manufacturing capability. Nissan’s investment in Sunderland reinforces the plant’s role as a key production hub for the company’s European operations.
Earlier this year, EV Powered traveled to Denmark for an early drive in the latest Leaf. You can watch their video review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0fFcHxSH0k to see what they thought of the updated electric car.
